Does Councilor-elect Bieda think Belmar is a criminal-filled slum?

A little over 154,000 people live in the City of Lakewood, but only 31,425 cast a ballot in this year's city council election. That's just twenty percent of city residents (some of whom, admittedly, are under 18 or otherwise ineligible to vote). Turnout among registered voters was only something like thirty-one percent.

A Bieda campaign advertisement that appears to
imply Belmar is a criminal-filled slum.

Thirty-one percent turnout stinks. There's just no other way to look at it, especially given the ease of voting by mail. Voters weren't familiar with the issues and so they just didn't return their ballots. In Ward 3 (which includes Belmar), the race came down to 300 votes out of just 6,120 ballots cast.

The winner? Mike Bieda, who ran on a platform of extreme opposition to Belmar and the very concept of a vibrant, downtown Lakewood.

What? Yes, I'm afraid so. Bieda also ran against redevelopment on Colfax, against affordable housing, against smart growth, and against the kinds of public-private partnerships that made Belmar possible. Shockingly, his ads during the campaign even appeared to imply that Belmar is an urban slum whose residents are extra-prone to criminality. It was a dog whistle campaign of the worst sort, suggesting to Ward 3's many senior citizens that Belmar's younger residents are somehow a dangerous threat to their way of life.

This divisive man is now our representative on the city council-- and will be for the next four years.

Alameda Shops to Bring Four New "Fast Casual" Restaurants to Belmar

Back in early 2015, I wrote about the plan to add retail space to the corner of Alameda and Salisbury in the form of two buildings-- one along Alameda, the other facing Salisbury. I later heard was that the existing infrastructure (sewer, power, water, etc.) of the location wasn't up to the needs of two buildings, and that as a result the plan would run substantially over budget if built.

The plan never went away, however, and now looks close to approval by the City of Lakewood. The biggest change has been to reduce the number of buildings from two to one-- only the building fronting Salisbury will be built, while a pedestrian path will connect the stores to the rest of Belmar.

Renderings of the planned building show a one story structure fronting Salisbury but with its facade turned toward the parking lot behind it. There will be room for outdoor seating, ideal for "fast casual" restaurants.

Indeed, Starwood appears to have leases already in hand for the entire space, with Zoe's Kitchen, R Taco, Pieology, and Mad Greens being the expected tenants.

Michael Gifford Has a Forward-Thinking Vision for Lakewood

To most voters, off year elections feel like sleepy affairs. Candidate signs spring up, but quietly, unsupported by the TV and radio ads that battle for mindshare during even years. Ballots go unreturned because it takes time to research the candidates. It's even possible to pretend that off year elections are less partisan, less important. That it really doesn't matter who gets elected.

If this was ever true, it isn't anymore. The outcome of this year's city council election will determine the future of Lakewood, and there are candidates with starkly opposing views.

In Ward 3, which includes Belmar and much of downtown Lakewood, the race to replace outgoing council member Shakti is a perfect example. 

Michael Gifford is the candidate with the most forward thinking vision. He talks about environmental stewardship, jobs and career program for young people, and smart growth-- taking the growth that is coming to Lakewood and channeling it into well-designed spaces (like Belmar) while preserving the feel of existing neighborhoods. 

Gifford is opposed by Michael Bieda, who sits firmly in the Lakewood-should-be-preserved-in-amber camp. Bieta equates the development of high density urban areas like Belmar with increased crime, traffic, and "longer waits at the super market."

To me, the idea that smart design like Belmar is somehow responsible for all that ails Lakewood is ludicrous. If Bieda has his way, the blight along Colfax will sit crumbling forever, awaiting the magical return of 1950's car culture retail. Businesses and development that could revitalize Lakewood's aging inner core will go elsewhere. Traffic will increase as residents drive elsewhere to work and play.

Gifford's vision is clearly the superior one, but there have also been questions about Bieda's temperament-- ColoradoPols has the details, but the gist is that Bieda was formerly a District Judge who was voted out of office after receiving a "Do Not Retain" recommendation from the Office of Judicial Performance.  

So yes, I understand that off year elections are sleepy. But the best way to keep them that way is to elect quality candidates like Michael Gifford-- candidates with proven track records and a vision for the future. 

Keep Jeffco Moving Forward

Have you noticed how little there's been in the news about the Jeffco Public Schools of late? That's probably because the current school board has been a model of good governance, listening and responding to parents, students, teachers, and other community stakeholders.

It's a big change from just a few years ago, when an ideological and divisive faction of tea-partiers and Libertarians seized control of the school district and made just about everyone in Jeffco angry. That previous board-- made up of Ken Witt, John Newkirk, and Julie Williams--  managed to make national and even international news for their efforts to censor AP History. In the end, they were removed by two-thirds of voters in an unprecedented recall election.

So yes, the quiet has been good. Witt, Newkirk, and Williams were replaced by Brad Rupert, Susan Harmon, and Ron Mitchell, and since then school board meetings have gone back to being the sleepy affairs they were before the tea party takeover. Eschewing ideology, Rupert, Harmon, and Mitchell have focused on nonpartisan governance and transparency, and have regained the trust of parents and the wider community. In one of their best moves, they hired Dr. Jason Glass, superintendent of the Eagle Count Schools and former Director of Education of Iowa's public schools. Dr. Glass has put a hold on school closures, and has been a ubiquitous presence at public events throughout the county, asking questions, reaching out to parents, and calling on teachers to transform the student experience.

Because Rupert, Harmon, and Mitchell were elected only to fill out the remainder of the recalled board members' terms, all three are up for reelection again this fall. Running against them are several partisan candidate who would take us back to the battles of the past few years.

Personally, I feel we need keep Jeffco moving forward, and that means re-electing Brad Rupert, Susan Harmon, and Ron Mitchell.

The Danish Plan, or How Boulder Capped Growth but Created New Problems

In 1976, Boulder adopted what's generally called the Danish Plan, named after Boulder anti-growth activist and politician Paul Danish. It limited housing growth to 2% a year, with an exemption for affordable housing projects funded by the Boulder Housing Authority. Adopted by voters, it had a sunset clause that kicked in after 5 years, after which the Boulder city council adopted its own ordinance limiting housing growth to 1% a year. The stated goal was to preserved Boulder's quality of life and unique character.

The Danish Plan (and its successor ordinance) did indeed put a brake on the development of new housing in Boulder. It also caused home prices, property taxes, and rents to skyrocket, and today affordable housing simply doesn't exist anywhere in the city. The Danish Plan increased traffic exponentially and made parking difficult as more and more workers and students were forced to drive in and out of Boulder each day from the surrounding municipalities where they lived. Indeed, the exclusivity of Boulder housing actually accelerated the changes to Boulder's character.

Today, Boulder is in many ways a playground of the rich, divorced from the rest of the metro area. It's a wonderful place to visit, but I could never afford to live there. When I do visit, I often remark to myself on how different it is from the Boulder I knew in the 1980's, when I was a college student. The goal of Paul Danish may have been to preserve the funky, hippie-friendly town he loved, but change is inevitable, and the Boulder of the 1970's and 80s is long gone.

Starting in about 2013, the Boulder city council reversed course and began to allow more housing growth, channeling it into transit oriented developments in old industrial zones that allow people to live and work closer together. This is the kind of growth that I favor-- growth that allows for the development of urban centers where people can shop and socialize without needing their cars. It's managed growth that preserves established neighborhoods but redevelops old and unneeded commercial strips. The metro area has way too much commercial real estate and not anywhere near enough housing-- especially affordable housing. Smart growth is about repurposing vacant or underutilized land to meet current needs. I'm absolutely against developers plopping three-story townhouses next to 1950's ranches in the middle of Green Mountain Heights or around Morse Park, but I'm also against leaving Colfax blighted.

Anti-growth measures like the Danish Plan are anti-smart growth just as much as they are anti-sprawl. At the same time, they do nothing to preserve the existing character of a city or limit traffic congestion. Instead they're a false promise to put time in a bottle.

Anti-Growth Ballot Measure Threatens Belmar and Downtown Lakewood

An ballot measure that would threaten the future of downtown Lakewood and prohibit innovative redevelopments like Belmar may be in the hands of city voters this fall. I'll have a lot more to say about this misguided proposal going forward, but Lakewood Mayor Adam Paul is out today with an op-ed in the Denver Post warning citizens of the harm that could be done if this ordinance were to pass.

In it, he warns correctly that the initiative could put a stop to the redevelopment of blighted sections of Colfax Ave, increase traffic congestion by forcing workers to live further from their jobs, and make  innovative developments like Belmar impossible-- all while driving up property taxes and rents.

Yes, I want to see growth managed, and no, I don't like the idea construction that's out of scale with an existing neighborhood, but it's possible to have smart growth without trapping Lakewood permanently in the 1950's. A blanket limit on all growth is just the wrong approach.

World of Beer in Belmar to Close; Crazy Mountain Brewing Co. to Open in Same Space

9News is reporting that World of Beer in the Belmar development will close and that locally-based Crazy Mountain Brewing Company will take over the space.

Although the Belmar World of Beer location seems to have done well, the closure appears to be part of a larger trend- around 20 World of Beer locations have closed recently around the country, with the majority being locations without food service.

Crazy Mountain Brewery Company, founded in 2010 by Kevin and Marisa Selvy, is based out of Edwards, Colorado and produces both year-round and seasonal beers.

Bar Louie to Open at 7111 W. Alaska Dr. in Belmar

The word on the streets is that Bar Louie is set to open a location at 7111 W. Alaska Drive, the former home of Belmar's now-shuttered Elephant Bar.

I've personally never eaten at one, but they do seem rather ubiquitous in all the metro area's "life-style centers." There's one at Northfield in Stapleton, another at the Streets at South Glenn, and at least one more up north at the Westminster Promenade.

Bar Louie appears to specialize in burgers, flat bread pizzas, sandwiches and salads, but the menu seems to cover all the bases.

Again, I've never eaten at one. Anyone have any thoughts?

Refresh Planned for Villa South Shopping Center

Business Den reports that the Villa South Shopping Center at Mississippi and Wadsworth has been purchased and the new owners plan to spend $2.5 million refurbishing the aging strip mall. The shopping center's only notable tenant is Johnny's New York Pizza, a popular choice for pizza delivery in the downtown Lakewood area. As the new owners plan to raise rents substantially, it's an open question whether Johnny's or any of the current tenants will remain.

In Photos: First Friday on Block 7

Chuy's Tex-Mex Coming to Belmar

Chuy's, the Austin-based Tex-Mex restaurant with a cult following, plans to open a Belmar location later this year.

Negotiations have been ongoing for at least a year to bring the restaurant to 499 S. Vance Street, across from the Belmar Chick Fil-A. This is the corner lot that cuts into the parking garage attached to Whole Foods and Mile High Wine and Spirits, and it's fantastic to see it finally get developed.

I haven't seen any renderings of the planned structure, and Chuy's is known for giving each of their locations its own, unique look. Among the common design elements are shrines to Elvis and funky, vintage decor.

As far as the menu at Chuy's goes, it's standard Tex-Mex fare, gently influenced by a New Mexican focus on green chilis. As such, it doesn't represent anything particularly new to the culinary scene in the metro area, where "Colorado-Mex" already blends New Mexican, Mexican, and Tex-Mex flavors together. I've never eaten at a Chuy's, but reviews tend to mention the freshness of their ingredients and their housemade tortillas. Perhaps the most notable thing about the menu is the absence of green chili, by which I mean the green chili, tomato, and pork stew that tops nearly every burrito, tamale, and relleno served in Colorado. Instead, Chuy's goes with New Mexican green chili, which is a thinner sauce made from green chilis alone.

My favorite Tex-Mex joints in Denver are the Blue Bonnet, Benny's, and the Rio Grande. And although I don't eat at any of these restaurant all that often, all three are well worth the occasional crosstown drive. For me, I'm excited to see how Chuy's fits in. If the food and the atmosphere are at least as good, then Chuy's will be a great addition to downtown Lakewood.

CubeSmart Self-Storage Planned for 6206 W. Alameda Ave.

The defunct Asian buffet at 6206 W. Alameda Ave. may become a self-storage facility under a proposal currently before the Lakewood Planning Commission.

The plan calls for demolishing the current structure and replacing it with a multistory building with a masonry facade on the first floor and glass curtain walls and metal canopies on the upper floors. The building would house climate controlled storage units, as well as business center with private workstations and a shared conference room.

The building would have windows along Alameda, connecting the office space inside to the Alameda greenway. Parking would be along the side and back, while a masonry wall and landscaping would separate the development from neighboring residential areas.

Overall, this plan strikes me as a good one. This is a site that's peripheral to downtown Lakewood, and as such, isn't a good site for a restaurant. A self-storage center is useful to have nearby, but isn't going to generate a lot of traffic and disrupt neighboring residential areas. At the same time, it's a chance to replace an eyesore structure and parking lot with a building that follows current zoning and building codes, placing the building along Alameda in order to contribute to the overall streetscape, and requiring higher quality materials on the facade.

First Take: Brodo Italian Scratch Kitchen is Good, Really Good

I stopped into Brodo today to take in the lovely February weather (!) and try a few things off their menu. The short story is that I had an amazing meal made even better by outstanding service. The longer story? Here goes:

As I wrote back in October, I've had some reservation about owners Shaheen and Knauf's decision to focus on Italian American classics instead of the more authentically Italian dishes they offer at their Greenwood village location, The Wooden Table. And I still have this concern. But I was able to find more than enough interesting choices on today's lunch menu to make it difficult to settle on just a couple of items.

As expected, the menu had plenty of pasta and red sauce, along with a meatball sandwich and chicken or eggplant parmesan. None of these choices stood out as particularly interesting, but I was tempted by the braised pork shoulder and chicken marsala, especially as they seemed likely to come with homemade pasta.

In the end, though, I started with an order of mussels in white wine, butter, and garlic, topped with a slice of grilled ciabatta. I paired it with a house chardonnay, and I got to say, I love mussels and white wine. This is a classic dish, but one that's easy to screw up if the mussels aren't top notch, or if they're over cooked. The ones Brodo served up were perfect, with not a single unopened shell or too-chewy bite. Instead, the mussels were tender and buttery, and the broth that they were served in was so good that I requested a side of bread to dip into it. The bread was crusty and fresh, and together it was practically a meal.


The mussels are on the appetizer menu, which means they're a couple of bucks off at happy hour (making then $12 instead of $14). The side of bread was just a couple of dollars, and at happy hour glasses of house wines are just $5. Taken together, this is a combination that I'm looking forward to going back to try again sometime soon.

After the mussels, I went for the hanger steak salad, which involved slices of the aforementioned hanger steak atop a plate of spring greens, gorgonzola, roasted grape tomatoes, and a sherry and gorgonzola vinaigrette. The steak was as tender as any steak I've ever had, and cooked exactly to my requested medium rare. The salad was perfectly balanced, and a true delight, especially when matched with a glass of a 2015 Posta Fazzio malbec. At $12 a glass, it was a bit of a splurge for a humble blogger like myself, but had deep cherry and plum undercurrents that went beautifully with the steak salad.

At this point, I'd eaten enough to call my appetizer and salad a meal, but obviously I was very pleased with the quality of both the ingredients and the cooking. Brodo seems like the real deal, if you can get past the conservative, ultra-classic nature of the menu.

I also want to highlight the quality of the service, because my server was outstanding. He clearly knew the menu, the food, and the ingredients, and he orchestrated the arrival of each course perfectly.

My only complaint was with the ambience, and specifically, the decor. The renovation of the space itself has been tastefully done. There's a large garage door that opens onto a spacious patio (hello spring and summer happy hour!), and a warm, open dining room under high ceilings and modern lights. But the tables and chairs seem a little institutional, and the wall art appears to have been plucked from a Bed, Bath, and Beyond discount bin. If Shaheen and Knauf really want to compete, they need to hire an interior decorator to finish the job.

But I really enjoyed my meal, and I think Brodo is going to be an outstanding addition to Belmar and downtown Lakewood. If you haven't gone over to try it yet, you really should. Order the mussels and a glass of wine, sit out on the patio, and enjoy a warm, February afternoon.

Retail Development Proposed for 280 Yarrow Street

The empty lot at 280 Yarrow Street has been for sale for years, but recently Suppa Properties has proposed an 18,500 square foot retail development for the parcel. The location is on the corner of Yarrow and W. Alameda.

The renderings I've seen show an appropriately scaled development that reinforces the Alameda streetscape with brickwork and high facades, and (critically) hides its surface parking in back. The retail spaces would range from 1200 to 8500 square feet, and would be easily walkable from the South Lakewood neighborhoods to the north, including the Village at Belmar.

I'm going to dig around and see if I can find out more about the proposal, but it looks promising if it gets off the ground.